Syllabus and general information for MCS-284: Computer Organization (Fall 1999)

Overview

MCS-284 will cover the architecture and organization of computer
hardware. We will look at the MIPS architecture as a representative
modern RISC architecture, and do some assembly language programming
for that architecture. We'll see how numbers are represented within a
computer and how the circuits that perform arithmetic operations on
those numerals are organized. With a high-level overview of digital
logic design to support us, we'll look at how the datapaths and
control circuits of processors are designed, and in particular we'll
look in some depth at pipelined processor design, which is the key
organizational principle at work in most present-day processors.
We'll examine the use of memory hierarchy (cache memory and virtual
memory) to provide the illusion of a large fast memory from the
reality of limited fast memory plus a larger but slower memory. We'll
look at input/output devices and buses, and at parallel computers.
Throughout the course there will be an emphasis on the quantitative
performance characteristics of computer systems; we'll look at the
influence of architecture and organization on performance, and take an
introductory look at the empirical and analytical tools appropriate to
the study of performance. Performance measurement will be one of the
main themes reinforced through the lab assignments; the other will be
assembly language programming.

Office hours

I will be available in my office (OHS 303) 11:30-12:20 Tuesdays,
2:30-3:20 Wednesdays, 9:00-9:50 Thursdays, 1:30-2:20 Fridays, and by
appointment. Or try your luck: just stop by and see whether my door
is open.
You may send me electronic mail at max@gustavus.edu or call me at
extension 7466. I'll try to put any updates to my office
hours on my web page, so check
there if in doubt.

Text

Labs

Normally labs will be held on Wednesdays and classes on the other four
days, but there are some exceptions; these are marked in the
syllabus. Labs will be held in the OHS 326 lab. Lab 0 will actually
be a special one-day demonstration experience not requiring a lab
report; only labs 1 through 4 will be ``real labs'' with reports.

Tests

There will be two intra-term tests and a final exam, as shown on the
syllabus below. (Note that the final exam will be as scheduled by the
registrar. The date and time shown in the syllabus are the tentative
projection from the registrar's office, but are subject to change by
that office.)

Honor

Students are encouraged to discuss the course, including issues raised
by the assignments. However, the solutions to assignments
should be individual original work unless otherwise specified. If an
assignment makes you realize you don't understand the material, ask a
fellow student a question designed to improve your understanding,
not one designed to get the assignment done. To do otherwise is to
cheat yourself out of understanding, as well as to be intolerably
dishonorable.

Any substantive contribution to your solution by another person or
taken from a publication should be properly acknowledged in writing.
Failure to do so is plagiarism and will necessitate disciplinary
action.

The same standards regarding plagiarism apply to team projects as to
the work of individuals, except that the author is now the entire team
rather than an individual. Anything taken from a source outside the
team should be be properly cited.

One additional issue that arises from the team authorship of
project reports is that all team members must stand behind all reports
bearing their names. All team members have quality assurance
responsibility for the entire project. If there is irreconcilable
disagreement within the team it is necessary to indicate as much in
the reports; this can be in the form of a ``minority opinion'' or
``dissenting opinion'' section where appropriate.

Late assignments

All homework and lab assignments are due at the beginning of class on
the day indicated. Late assignments will be penalized by one ``grade
notch'' (such as A to A- or A- to B+) for each weekday late or fraction
thereof. However, no late assignments will be accepted after graded
assignments are handed back.

If you are too sick to complete an assignment on time, you
will not be penalized. Simply write ``late due to illness'' at the
top of the assignment, sign your name and hand it in. Other circumstances
will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

Grade changes

Please point out any arithmetic or clerical error I make in grading,
and I will gladly fix it. You may also request reconsideration if I
have been especially unjust.

Grading

I will provide you with a letter grade on each homework and lab
assignment and on each test, in addition to the mid-term and final
grades, so that you may keep track of your performance. As a
guideline, the components will contribute in the following proportion
to the final grade:

20% lab assignments (4 @ 5% each)

40% homework (8 @ 5% each)

24% intra-term exams (2 @ 12% each)

16% final exam

However, I reserve the right to subjectively adjust your final grade.
Please see me if you have any question how you stand. Class
participation is not graded; however, it allows you to find and repair
the gaps in your understanding before doing the homework or exam, and
thus can dramatically improve your grade.

Style guidelines

All homework and lab reports should be readily readable, and should
not presuppose that I already know what you are trying to say. Use
full English sentences where appropriate (namely almost everywhere)
and clear diagrams, programs, etc. Remember that your goal is to
communicate clearly, and that the appearance of these technical items
plays a role in this communication process. Be sure your assignments
are always stapled together and that your name is always on them.

Accessibility

Please contact me immediately if you have a learning or physical
disability requiring accommodation.

Syllabus

A single number in the reading column means to read that entire
chapter. When a reading is indicated as going to a particular page
number, it means up to the first heading on that page. The same
section number on the next class day then indicates to finish the
section.

This is my best guess as to the rate at which we will cover material.
However, don't be shocked if I have to pass out one or more revised
syllabi.